Today, the Everytown Community Safety Fund (CSF), part of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, has announced a significant $40,000 grant to Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health. The program is among 14 gun violence intervention organizations nationwide to receive one of the Everytown Community Safety Fund’s sustainer grants, representing a $560,000 total investment into the initiative this year. The Everytown Community Safety Fund (CSF), a program of Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, is the largest national initiative solely dedicated to fueling the life-saving work of community-based violence intervention organizations in cities nationwide.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General, a public health approach to gun related injury and violence prevention requires immediate “investments in community‑based interventions and educational programs,” including supporting hospital-based violence intervention programs. With more than seven out of every 10 medically treated firearm injuries stemming from gun-related assaults, Turning the Tide’s work is a cornerstone in Charleston’s fight against gun violence. The organization provides trauma-informed, comprehensive care to individuals recovering from violent injuries. The program offers assessment, support and long-term follow-up, linking patients with MUSC and community resources to enhance recovery and prevent repeat incidents. Trained members of the Turning the Tide care team engage with at-risk and injured patients at their bedside, assess risk factors, establish recovery plans, and serve as the conduit to strengthen patient and family support networks. Turning the Tide collaborates with local agencies, including criminal justice advocates, educational programs and family counseling services to spread their impact.
“The continued funding of community-based violence intervention programs like Turning The Tide is crucial for preventing future tragedies," said Michael-Sean Spence, Managing Director of Community Safety Initiatives and Fund at Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund. “The compassionate and trauma-informed care that Turning the Tide provides to our most vulnerable neighbors is a cornerstone of its success in the city. We are proud to support them in their efforts to secure a safer and more hopeful future for all.”
“The MUSC Health Turning the Tide Violence Intervention Program is thrilled to receive this grant from the Everytown Community Safety Fund because without it, we have fewer resources to contribute to local efforts that are reducing gun violence and ensuring community safety,” said Christa Green, MPH, program director of Turning the Tide. “This funding directly supports our frontline team of client advocates, who provide services to victims of community gun violence with the goal of improving recovery and reducing future violence. We are grateful for the ongoing support and partnership, which is crucial as we strive to make the Charleston area safer.”
Everytown’s sustainer grants follow previous multi-year support grants from the Everytown Community Safety Fund. Each year, the Fund awards one-year sustainer grants to extend support to several previous grantees in their work of reducing gun violence in their communities. In 2022, Turning the Tide was one of 15 organizations to receive a $100,000 support grant.
Gun homicide has significantly declined in cities across the nation from a post-pandemic spike — due in part to the scaling and city coordination efforts with community based violence intervention organizations working on the frontlines of the gun violence epidemic in cities across the country. And though local communities have seen a reduction in gun violence, data shows gun violence persists, with gun homicide rates in the U.S. still 26 times higher than in other developed countries. In the United States, every day, more than 120 Americans are killed with guns and more than 200 are shot and wounded.
Since 2019, the Everytown Community Safety Fund (CSF) has granted over $13 million in support of 136 community-based violence intervention organizations implementing promising strategies, like street outreach, hospital-based violence interventions and youth development and counseling, in more than 69 American cities.
The full list of community-based violence intervention organizations currently supported by the Everytown Community Safety Fund and more information about the fund can be found here.